Jack

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We all slept late this morning, I finally woke Ted up at 9:30 and called the boys in for a snuggle. I planned to laze around and make a new recipe, cranberry orange scones, for our brunch before leaving for Disney. While we were lazing around though, Jennifer said that Rachel was missing Jack and they wanted to video call us. I’m never going to turn that down! What with one thing and another the scones were just coming out of the oven when it was time for Jennifer to call. When I realized that was going to happen I gave everybody a turkey stick so that we wouldn’t be hangry during our phone call.

When Jennifer and Rachel called Amy was there too! It’s so good to see my girlfriends. Ted had said he wanted to record Jack when he saw Rachel because he often has some really exuberant responses to seeing his favorite people. Little did I know that this whole phone call setup was a ruse! Jennifer and Amy had some surprising news: they’re coming here in three weeks and Ted planned for me to have a week off and stay with them in a hotel down the street! I’m so excited! I’m so blessed to have a husband who cares enough to let me have some time off from homeschooling every year, and so awesomely blessed to have girlfriends who want to spend their free time with me! Even with my exciting news Jack got to have a good little visit with Rachel.

Mike and Linda arrived today, so after our phone call and lunch I went outside to visit with them. I’m so glad they’re here; they’re such sweet people.

Later Ted and I walked to the office to get whatever packages we had there. Amazon has failed to ship our screen protectors for so long, but I think they might actually be in today. Also, Ted ordered a couch cover. I don’t think this thing can ever look nice, but it’s what he thinks is best, so we’ll see.

The boys and I noticed a few days before Christmas that the trash was piling up at the campground. There are now three trailers with trash bags piled high next to the dumpster! When we walked into the office it was almost as crazy! It looked like there’s only one woman (Carmen) working there and the packages are piled up all around the left desk. Ted and I looked at the packages without touching them to see if we could find ours while Carmen helped someone. There was an older lady sitting in a chair who saw us reading the names on the packages and she told us not to touch anything because Carmen would holler at us if we did! When Carmen overheard her say that she kindly said yes, please don’t go through any of those packages, I’ll help you in just a few minutes. We reassured Carmen that we weren’t in any hurry, and that we wouldn’t touch anything. As soon as the person Carmen was helping left, the grumpy old lady jumped up to make sure Carmen helped her next. When Carmen found the old lady’s box the old lady said I guess there’s nobody here to help me take this package to my camper? Off to the side Ted motioned to me that he would offer to help her out. Poor Ted! When he left carrying her heavy box I told Carmen that we weren’t in any hurry but I thought we had a package or two. She had mentioned that we couldn’t help her look or anything because there was a camera in the office watching her; I completely understand that they don’t want anybody who doesn’t work there to touch the packages, so I just stood back and to tried to describe the size of what I thought we were looking for. In the end we had one box that had everything in it. As we were finishing up and I was signing for the box she talked about how she just tries to stay calm even when others around her losing their cool, because you never know what the Lord has planned for you! I told her a tiny bit of our story and said the same thing as her, that we’re happier where the Lord wants us than where we want to go. It was nice to have a small visit with her like that.

When I got back to the bus and texted Ted we realized we passed each other on the way. The old lady lives right down the street from us! I was glad he didn’t tell her where we live. Ted started putting the couch cover on and I helped him fit it. It looks pretty good! Go Ted!

We left for our last day of Hollywood Studios then. We sent Max to get a DAS for the Slinky Dog Dash while we walked over to Star Tours. Jack was the rebel spy today! Next up was a snack, and I love the way Jack looked as Max poured all the rest of the powdered sugar into his mouth after their funnel cake!

Toy Story Mania was next, and then Tower of Terror. Then it was time for our last time on Slinky Dog Dash.

On the way out we stopped for a last Hollywood picture.

At home the boys got in the shower while we made supper: sandwiches and chips and dip. We also ate a little bit of chocolate bread house, and watched Age of Ultron while we ate. Jack went to bed before the movie finished, but the rest of us waited for the new year. When the movie was over there was only about half an hour left, so we watched Chopped until it was time. Then we stepped outside to watch a few fireworks. I’m excited to see what the new year brings!

For lunch after church I cooked the last of the kale, and we had that with sandwiches and some Fancy Yancey’s hatch chile cheddar. That stuff is so creamy!

After my nap and setting up the boys for their supper I left early to pick up Ted at the airport, and talked to Jo a long time. Ted and I went to Toasted for our supper date, where we both split the Southern Comfort (cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, housemade bbq sauce, mac and cheese) and the Angry Burger (chipotle cheddar, charred jalapenos, sweet tea, caramelized onions, sriracha). We ordered rosemary fries which were awesome and macaroni and cheese which was just okay. They also had regular fountain drinks, and a few fancy fountain drinks. I had set the boys up with the last of the pizza, oranges, and cheese and crackers for supper.

We liked both burgers, but I think we both liked the Southern Comfort best.

When we were halfway finished eating Max called with a shituation! I walked him through how to take care of it; I hope one day this won’t be part of our lives! When we were finished eating we went to Publix to look for some Cokes, and ended up going to Walmart for Cokes and groceries. Close to home I exited the toll road and the guy ahead of me was super indecisive and slow. At the last minute he changed lanes cutting in front of me, so I went to change lanes right behind him and ended up hitting a flexible divider! I’m so glad it was flexible!

At home we started to watch Stranger Things, but about 20 minutes into the first episode we realized that we have this season out of order.

We were those people at Disney who didn’t follow the rules today! There weren’t good directions about where to park so we ended up parking where we normally do, while everybody else was heading off to a distant parking lot. I checked out the nearby parked cars to make sure there wasn’t something specifically on each of theirs, and we look to be in the clear. I guess we’ll see when we get back!

I went through the bag line and the boys went around and waited for me; seems like there’s a big crowd today. I headed straight to get a DAS for Test Track while the boys waited to meet me at Soarin. When I asked for a DAS the guy knew which people were going on the ride and I finally realized that it’s because there are only three of us in the park; they know that because we scanned our bands at the front gate. When I asked him if that was how he knew he said no, he could just read minds and he knew which people I wanted to go on the ride. He made me laugh so much! Then as I turned away and was telling him I wish I knew how to read minds I ran into a woman who’d pushed her stroller about 2″ from my leg. I wish I had read her mind!

We rode Soarin and The Land, and then at 12:30 the boys and I parted ways.

Max is convinced that there’s a hidden Mickey here at the entrance to The Land, but I just think it’s a bunch of circles.If you zoom in a bunch on that top right flower I think you can see a face!

I gave Max $20 for ice cream for each of them and a Coke to split. I walked around a bit and then got a Coke Zero and asked in Germany about the mac and cheese. When they said it was on the crispy side I walked to the nearby stand and got the fondue. I was sitting there having a nice, quiet time eating and looking at the lake when Max called me for help. They hadn’t gone any farther than the ice cream shop, but their ice cream was melting all over the place and was making a huge mess! Heh. I walked less than a minute to where they were and Jack was just covered, it had dripped all down his shirt and is all over his shoes. I sent Max to a nearby restroom to clean himself up and then I used all my wetties to wipe Jack down enough that he could finish his ice cream. Max came back calmed down and ate the rest of his super melty ice cream. He’d asked for cups thinking that they’d be neater, but you know how they overfill ice cream cups, and how fast ice cream melts in the heat!

We all finished eating and then I sent them off to the Ralph playground while I walked through the Norway and Mexico lands.

Jack asked me to take his photo here because he saw other people getting their photo taken, but then he wouldn’t look at the camera! Ornery child!

When it was time we rode Test Track and then skipped our Spaceship Earth fast pass and went home. I made us a big kale salad with avocado and garbanzos and a lot of other stuff.

This is what I found when I got out of bed this morning. Jack has been busy!

While we got ready for breakfast Max found out that a game he wants for the Switch is on sale, so I had him text Ted to get it for him and help him install it. We all played games then, and then for lunch we had ice cream, brownies, caramel and marshmallows. Healthy!

I went to get groceries then and told the boys they couldn’t play electronics while I was gone. Max is waiting on this game to download so he can spend his electronic time on that later.

When I got home the boys went to the playground while I talked to Ted. He got our pre-approval, but he’s frustrated I don’t want to rush into a house.

We had sliders for supper that I think I may have doubled the meat on…they were great!

And we saw a stink bug today!!!! I think it may have been a month since we’ve seen one! We’d just gotten up from the table and a minute or two later there it was crawling on the dinette table! Crazy thing!

Jack watched Despicable Me this morning on request while I read some Reader’s Digest. When it was over the boys put up the dishes and made their breakfasts. I was starting to get ready slowly then, and then I realized it was 11! Where does the time go on lazy mornings?! I hopped into the shower and got myself ready. I made an egg and cheese muffin and put some arugula on it since I had that and didn’t have any Canadian bacon. It was good! Tabasco on it was good, too.

We were a little early then, so I put the rest of the Lego stickers on the Ninjago pieces for Max and then we left for the park. I decided a few weeks ago that I wanted to go to Magic Kingdom on Christmas day to see what it was like, but also because when else are we going to have this opportunity? I made us some fast passes a few days ago, and figured that if it was too crazy we’d just go home.

And it was crazy! But we went into it with the mindset that we weren’t in a hurry and we could leave at any time. We rode the tram to the T&T because there was a tram right there. When we got to T&T the line from the tram to the bag search was solid! Normally you choose a line and have to wait behind 6 or 8 people, but today you couldn’t even see distinct lines! We drove away from the campground at 12:43, and it was 1:47 when we stepped through the train tunnel into the MK!

The first thing we did was get a DAS for a photo with Mickey right at the entrance. I thought that would be a great way to commemorate this day. After that we only had 7 minutes to get to the Buzz ride. We got into line right at 2pm, but the line before the fast pass station was so long that I knew we’d be past our time by the time we scanned our bracelets. I left the boys in line and asked a Cast Member at the front of the line if that would be a problem and she said it wouldn’t. Once on the ride I found a full side view hidden Mickey!

We shopped for a few minutes while we waited for our Speedway fast pass time. Jack had as great a time as last time. He never says he wants to drive but I make him and then he enjoys it.

I like that I got the castle in the background.

We had a fast pass for Thunder Mountain at 4:15 but we were ready to leave after the Speedway, so we headed to our DAS which was right by the exit. Max says he’s always worried about meeting with characters, since they don’t talk it’s hard to tell what they want sometimes and he doesn’t want to embarrass himself shaking their hands when they want a high 5 or something. Heh. We took our photos and got out of there.

The line for the monorail wasn’t long at all and I figured this would be a great low-pressure way to extend our day, so I told the boys we’d ride around the park a few times. Of course since I said that the a/c wasn’t keeping up in the monorail and it was so hot in there! We were delayed a couple of times for just a few minutes but when we got to our first stop I was so ready to get out of there! And it was cooler outside than inside; we just walked right to our truck. I considered going to Abracadabra, but their FB feed wasn’t 100% clear that they’d be open today, so we just drove home. Along the way I saw a Walgreens that was open so we ran in there and got some ice cream and chips and dip for a Christmas splurge.

At home I sent the boys outside with Legos and toys and called Ted to get the scoop. There’s always scoop. And it’s not the good kind. He’s looking at houses and has found some beauties, but they’re just outside of our price range. I think we have time to keep looking. We’ll see.

We had prosciutto and arugula pizza for supper, and I made lava brownies that we ate with our ice cream. We all talked to Grandmom then, and when she mentioned us moving there sooner I sent Max to shower because we haven’t told him yet. Ugh. It’s hard keeping this secret from him! When the boys were in bed I talked to Ted again to let him know what Grandmom and I had talked about.